Story Highlights

Alexander shapes up

On June 28, The Tennessean published a letter of mine that was highly critical of Sen. Lamar Alexander's role in crafting a secretive health care bill, the results of which would have dismantled health care for millions.

I remain disturbed that our politics have devolved so far that a process and policy so hostile to so many citizens is what results from "the world's greatest deliberative body," as the Senate likes to refer to itself. However, I would also like to give credit where it's due, and Sen. Alexander deserves high praise for his current efforts to find bipartisan solutions to problems with the Affordable Care Act.

It will be an uphill climb, no doubt. That said, these efforts show the type of statesmanship and maturity so lacking in Washington, D.C., today. Given he has more to lose than gain politically from these efforts, I feel the senator is motivated by personal values, and I admire that immensely.

My letter earlier this summer criticized Sen. Alexander as having lost touch with his Tennessee roots and the identity he cultivated with his famous "common man" plaid flannel shirts. If he can continue to summon the personal integrity to work with others, seeking bipartisan solutions in the interest of all citizens, perhaps the intended message of those flannel shirts is not as threadbare or hypocritical as I imagined.

Dustin Ogdin, Whites Creek 37189

Liberals tread on thin ice

The left wing, most of Hollywood and the Democratic Party are treading on thin ice. Just as the First Amendment does not protect you against liability if you yell "Fire!" in a movie theater, receiving and printing what you know is classified information and damaging to national security — just to damage or embarrass the president whom you will not accept — is inexcusable.

The American people have long grown tired of this nonsense. Any politician worth a single vote should put this fabulous country that they swore oath to above party, their constituents, and pray to God even above re-election. But the aforementioned left, most of Hollywood, liberals and the Democratic Party in general are in a panic-stricken state of denial.

If you must obstruct at any cost, then how can you claim to be worthy of a single vote? Your re-election and posh standard of living should not be your first priority; serving the people honorably should be.

After threats of nuclear action from North Korea, President Trump's, er, calm reaction was to issue a bigger, fiery, more powerful threat. He's always got to be firing something, usat.ly/2wIcXDk USA TODAY

Lie detectors good for White House

Kellyanne Conway has suggested that the White House may have staff use lie detectors to determine whether they are leaking information to the press. This is a brilliant idea but doesn’t go nearly far enough.

Our country is faced with a crisis. Citizens listen to statements by Mr. Trump and his spokespeople and have no idea whether they are telling the truth. If we had all of them make their public statements while attached to lie detectors, all of this doubt could be alleviated.

When the problem is lying, lie detectors could be the solution. Go for it, Ms. Conway, and start with yourself.